Drafting device for textile machines

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a drafting machine for the preparation and spinning of natural or manmade textile fibers and more particularly to the devices for controlling said fibers. A device according to the invention comprises, between feed cylinders and drafting cylinders, two fields of control elements movable in the sense of forward movement of the fibrous material to be drafted between the two fields. A least one of said fields is constituted by bars with flexible lips each formed from a transverse strip of material presenting a degree of flexibility such as rubber, leather or an elastomer folded back on itself in the form of a loop called upon to exert a degree of pressure against the said fibrous material.

United States Patent Herubel [451 Jan. 25, 1972 DRAFTING DEVICE FORTEXTILE MACHINES Jean Frederic Herubel, Guebwiller, France N.Schlumberger & Cie, Guebwiller, France Filed: Nov. 5, 1969 Appl. No.:874,136

inventor:

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 28, 1968 France ..175735 US. Cl..l9/236, 19/248, 19/249 Int. Cl. ..D0lh 5/00 Field of Search l9/244-257, 129,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Casablancas 19/249 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 810 0/1860 Great Britain 19/129 826,902 1/1960Great Britain ..l9/244 964,957 7/1964 Great Britain 19/248 PrimaryExaminer-Dorsey Newton Attorney-McGlew and Toren [5 7] ABSTRACT Thepresent invention relates to a drafting machine for the preparation andspinning of natural or manmade textile fibers and more particularly tothe devices for controlling said fibers.

A device according to the invention comprises, between feed cylindersand drafting cylinders, two fields of control elements movable in thesense of forward movement of the fibrous material to be drafted betweenthe two fields. A least one of said fields is constituted by bars withflexible lips each formed from a transverse strip of material presentinga degree of flexibility such as rubber, leather or an elastomer foldedback on itself in the form of a loop called upon to exert a degree ofpressure against the said fibrous material.

13 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJMSIQYZ 3536591 SHEET 1 {1F 5INvEN'mK A Emw Fammac HEkuBEL ATToANE PATENTED JANZS r972 SHEET 3 BF 5INVENTOR A EAMiEflEDE me H ERUBEL BY ATTORNEY-S PATEmEnJms-mz $636591SHEET #1 BF 5 INVIiNTOR.

JEAN FREDERlC HERUBEL 1 DRAFTING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES DRAFTTRANSLATION The present invention relates to high-draft drafting systemsfor the preparation and spinning of natural or manmade textile fibers.

Every preparing or spinning machine for textile fibers comprises adevice serving to arrange the fibers parallel to each other and to drawthe slivers or rovings. Such a device is composed of feed cylinders, acontrol device, and drafting rollers.

The present invention concerns more particularly the device forcontrolling the fibers.

The many drafting devices used up to the present for drawing slivers orrovings comprise varied control parts, such as single or double fieldsor pinned bars or fallers, porcupine rolls, rollers with elasticcovering, multiple and idler rollers, double or apron units and so on.

Some devices use a combination of several of these means.

However, known devices present a certain number of disadvantages,notably:

l. The control system using pinned bars is very slow which irreparablylimits production. What is more the number of points is insufficient totreat fine slivers for preparation for the yarns to be spun, further thedrafting action which the system allows is relatively weak. Also thefeeding charges are limited for a given output weight. This system isalso very costly.

2. The porcupine roll constitutes a field of needles over a very smallactive area which considerably diminishes the control of the treatedfibers. The fact that the penetration of the needles into the sliver andtheir leaving are not made perpendicularly to the advance of thematerial, presents a constant risk of irregularity in the sliver orroving.

3. The system using multiple cylinders and floating cylinders presentsthe risk of numerous tangles and controls the materi-- al badly.

4. The system using lower and upper cylinders with elastic coveringscontrols the material better, but equally poses danger of tangles.

5. The system using a lower apron on convex surface limits the range ofthe material possibly treated, as its convexity retains the longerfibers too much.

6. The system using a-double apron and a cylinder in the upper apron isbetter than the foregoing, because it suppresses tangles, but thecontrol is still insufficient for above-normal inputs.

The object of the invention is to provide a drafting device which doesnot present the disadvantages listed above in the known devices.

To this end, a device according to the invention comprises, between feedcylinders and drafting cylinders, two fields of control elements movablein the sense of forward movement of the fibrous material to be draftedwhich must pass between the two fields, one of these at least beingconstituted by bars with flexible lips each formed from a transversestrip of a material presenting a degree of flexibility such as rubber,leather, or an elastomer, folded back on itself in the form of a loopwhich is called upon to exert a degree of pressure against the fibrousmaterial.

Such a device according to the invention presents a whole series ofadvantages, notably:

I. The capital cost and the upkeep of a bar with a flexible lip is lessthan that of a bar with pins. Further, it is less fragile, which allowsincrease in the machine speed from which arises an increase inproduction.

2. The bar with a flexible member having a very good holding-backaction, while being very supple, permits, on one part, drafting effectsand on the other part, feeding charges greater than those of the usualdevices.

3. The bar with a flexible lip not having pins, the problem of the entryand leaving of pins from the material does not arise. What is more, thebar with a flexible lip can present the flexible lip in any position,the holding back and control of the fibers being always accomplishedwithout producing irregularities in the sliver or roving.

4. A field of bars with flexible lips no longer presents any risk oftangles, as was the case with the systems using multiple cylinders andfloating cylinders.

5. The range of the materials which can be treated is no longer limited,the path and inclination of the field of lips being able to be chosen inthe most favorable manner.

In one embodiment, the other field of control elements is constituted byan endless apron passing against a table and over two terminalcylinders, whereas, in another embodiment, the other field of controlelements is constituted also by bars with flexible lips of the samekind.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge fromthe following description and from the accompanying drawings, which showby way of example only, some embodiments of the invention. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a draftingdevice according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a bar with a flexible lip from the deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the bar of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 shows various forms of bars with flexible lips;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the arrangement of two fields ofcontrol elements formed of bars with flexible lips;

FIGS. 8 to 12 show varied forms of the device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a side view of another drafting device according to theinvention, in which the flexible lips are carried by bars similar tointersection bars;

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment in which the flexible lips are mountedinside a drafting apron;

FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment in which the flexible lips arecarried by an endless apron;

FIG. 15A shows yet another embodiment in which the flexible lips arepositioned both above and below the fibrous material;

FIG. 16 shows a modification of the embodiment in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows yet another embodiment in which the flexible lips aremounted in a support which is vertically movable inside an endlessapron;

FIGS. l8, l9 and 20 show schematically possible arrangements of fieldsof fiber control elements, in a drafting device according to theinvention; and

FIGS. 21 and 22 represent embodiments similar to the preceding figuresincluding a porcupine roller on the inlet and outlet sides of themachine respectively.

The drafting device for the preparation and spinning of natural ormanmade textile fibers shown in FIG. 1 comprises between feed cylindersl and 2, and drafting cylinders 3, 4 and 5, a fiber control devicedesignated as a whole by 7, and comprising two fields 8, 9 of fibercontrol elements which are movable in the direction f in which thefibrous material 10 passes between the two fields.

At least one of the two fields of fiber control elements in this examplethe upper field is constituted by bars with flexible lips, 13 thestructure of which can for example be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The lower field of control elements 9 is constituted in this example, bya belt or apron formed from canvas, or a notched endless belt whichpasses over a table 14 and two terminal cylinders 15, 16.

Such flexible lip 13 is constituted in this example by a transversestrip of a material possessing a desired degree of resilience, such asrubber, leather, or an elastomer, folded on itself to form a loop, theback of which is called on to exert pressure on the fibrous material 10.

In this example, the two marginal portions of the folded strip aresecured against a rigid support 18, by example by means of a plate 19and bolts shown simply by their axes 21.

The ensemble of these bars and flexible lips forms a flexible anddeformable field which exerts on the fibrous material 10, a pressurewhich increases with increasing thickness of the fibrous material. InFIG; 3 there are shown by arrows A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, the values ofthe pressure exerted by the flexible lip 13 on the fibrous material 10as a function of the location of the point considered across the widthof the fibrous material. In the middle of thefibrous material, that isin the region of its maximum thickness, the pressure indicated by arrowG is also the greatest, whereas on the edges where the thickness of thefibrous material is weak, the pressure indicated by arrows such as A, Bis much weaker.

'In FIG. 2, there is indicated in broken lines, the configuration of thebar with flexible lip towards the middle of its length, that is at theplace of greatest thickness of the fibrous material 10.

FIG. 4 shows a modification in the form of the flexible lip directeddownstream of the fiber feed instead of directed upstream like that inFIG. 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show forms of bars in which the flexible lip 23 or 24 issymmetrical with reference to a theoretical geometric plane situatedbetween the two faces of the strip fixed to the support 18. In FIG. 5,the two marginal portions of the strip are secured to the support 18 oneagainst the other. Whereas in FIG. 6 they are secured to the oppositesides of the support, so that the lip is wider.

In FIG. 7 there is schematically shown a modification of the main partof the fiber control system illustrated in FIG. 1 in which the lowerfield of control elements is also constituted by bars with flexible lips25 similar to those 13 of the upper field.

The lower bars with flexible lips 25 can be placed exactly opposite theupper bars with flexible lips 13 as shown in FIG; 7 or else with aslight shift as shown in FIG. 10.

In FIG. 7 the bars with flexible lips have been represented directedrearwardly or upstream but they can also by way of modification bedirected forwardly or downstream, either in perfect coincidence as shownin FIG. 9 or with slight shift as shown in FIG. 12. Instead of beinginclined, the flexible lips can also present a symmetrical form withreference to a theoretical geometric plane, situated midway between thetwo sidewalls of the strip as shown in FIGS. 8 and 11 which showrespectively, the bar in coincidence and shifted. The body 18 of theplate can be inclined during its working phase.

In FIG. 13, there is shown another embodiment in which the flexible lips13 are carried by bars 31 mounted in a mechanism designated as a wholeby 32, of the intersecting bar kind which bars are displaced in arectilinear direction along the fibrous material and which return totheir starting point through a path located above their working path.The other elements in the device are similar to those shown in FIG. 1and are designated by the same reference numerals. Their operation isthe same.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the upper field of controlelements is again constituted by flexible lips 13, secured to bars 18carried on an endless belt 41 mounted on two terminal rollers 42, 43, atleast one of which is driven to assure movement of the lips 13. What ismore, the ensemble of these lips is mounted inside an endless belt 45which passes around cylinders 46, 47, 48 driven at the same speed asthat of the lips 13. The fibrous material 10 is thus submitted to thepressure of the lips 13 through the intermediary of the belt 45. Theother elements are the same as shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 15, the lower field of control elements is the same as in FIG.14, but the lips 13 of the upper field, which are again carried by bars18 mounted on an endless belt 41, are in direct contact with the fibrousmaterial 10, the belt 41 being carried by two cylinders 51, 52 at leastone of which is driven at the desired speed. In a modificationillustrated in FIG. 15A, the lower belt 41A carried by the cylinders 15and 16 also carries bars 18 with lips 13 which form the lower field offiber-controlling elements adapted to exert a pressure against the fibermaterial 10 in conjunction with the lips 13 of the upper field.Preferably, belts 41 and 41A are notched belts capable of being moved inperfect synchronism.

The device shown in FIG. 16 is only differentiated from that shown inFIG. 15 by the fact that the table 14 is raised relative to thedownstream terminal cylinder 16, so that the drawing device presents apath with a plunging part as shown by 55, which permits control, notonly of long fibers but also of short fibers, and consequently,improvement to a great extent of the regularity of the sliver or rovingof emerging fibers.

In FIG. 16, there is shown, also, a fixed guide 57 against which theinternal face of the flexible lip supporting belt 41 is backed, facingthe table 14 against which passes the lower belt 9.

In FIG. 17, there is shown a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 14from which it differs in that the flexible lips 13 are not subject to atranslational movement, but are carried by bars 18 secured to avertically movable support 61 inside of endless belt 45 was to be ableto exert a variable pressure against the inner face of the said belt 45and, in consequence, on the sliver or roving of fibers 10. In theexample, the support 61 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft 62.There can further by provided means for regulating the pressure exertedby the lips 13 against the belt.

Generally speaking, in all the embodiments shown and described above, aswell as in all those which can fall within the scope of the invention,the path of the upper fiber control elements, and the path of the lowerfiber control elements can be, perhaps parallel as in the embodimentsillustrated or perhaps convergent in a first part as shown by 71 in FIG.18, then parallel in a second part 72 or even convergent in a first part71, as shown in FIG. 19 and divergent in a second part 73 or else firstconvergent as shown by 71 in FIG. 20, then parallel in a second part 72and finally divergent in a third part 73.

In FIGS. 21 and 22, the control system according to the invention,designated as a whole by 7, is preceded and/or followed by a single ordouble porcupine roller as shown by 75, 76, respectively. The porcupineroller can also be replaced for example by gill boxes or intersectingcombs, or by drafting devices with double or single apron, or else bydrafting devices with barrel rollers.

The speed of advance of the lower field of fiber control elements can bethe same as the speed of the elements of the upper field, but it canalso be slightly different therefrom, which can remedy insufficientpressure to hold back the fibers, notably for poor feeding charges.

The driving of the bars with resilient lips can be carried out by ascrew, e.g., similar to an intersecting bar screw, by a notched belt, bya chain, or by any other appropriate means.

Of course the invention is not limited to the embodiments described andrepresented, which have been given by way of examples. Numerousmodifications can be made thereto, according to the intended applicationwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for drafting a fibrous material comprising feed cylinders,drafting cylinders, two fields of fiber controlling elements arrangedbetween said feed and drafting cylinders and movable in the direction ofmovement of said fibrous material, at least one of said fields of fibercontrolling elements being constituted by bars and flexible lips carriedby said bars, said lips each being formed of a transverse thin strip ofmaterial presenting a degree of flexibility folded back on itself toform a loop called on to exert a pressure against the fibrous material.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising two terminalcylinders, a table between said two terminal cylinders, and wherein saidother field of fiber control elements is constituted by an endless beltpassing over said table and said two terminal cylinders.

3. A device according to claim I, wherein the other field of fibercontrol elements is also constituted by bars with similar flexible lips.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of said flexible lipcarrying bars is made of a rigid material.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein each of said bars has astrip-carrying face, said flexible strip having two marginal portionsand said two marginal portions of said flexible strip being secured tosaid face of said bar.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein each of said bars has twoopposite strip-carrying faces, said flexible strip having two marginalportions and said two marginal portions of said flexible strip beingsecured respectively to said two opposite faces of said bar.

7. A device according to claim 3, wherein each bar of one of said twofields is located opposite a bar of the other field.

8. A device according to claim 3, wherein each bar of one of said twofields is shifted with reference to a bar of the other field in theirdirection of motion.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein one of said two fields offiber control elements comprises an endless belt, said flexiblelip-carrying bars being arranged inside said endless belt, said lipsbeing in contact with one run of said belt in an active area of saidfield.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said flexible lipcarryingbars are carried on a support, said support being movableperpendicularly to the general plane of said lips on a zone where theycooperate with the other field of fiber controlling elements.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein said field offiber-controlling element further comprises two end cylinders, anendless belt passing over said two end cylinders, said field of flexiblelip carrying bars being carried by said endless belt.

12. A device according to claim 2, wherein said table is raised withreference to the end cylinder which carries the downstream end of theendless belt passing over said table.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein a support means is providedon which said field of flexible lip carrying bars is mounted fordisplacing said lip-carrying bars in a working path in the direction ofmovement of the fiber material and for returning said flexiblelip-carrying bars through a path located above the working path.

l l i

1. A device for drafting a fibrous material comprising feed cylinders,drafting cylinders, two fields of fiber controlling elements arrangedbetween said feed and drafting cylinders and movable in the direction ofmovement of said fibrous material, at least one of said fields of fibercontrolling elements being constituted by bars and flexible lips carriedby said bars, said lips each being formed of a transverse thin strip ofmaterial presenting a degree of flexibility folded back on itself toform a loop called on to exert a pressure against the fibrous material.2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising two terminalcylinders, a table between said two terminal cylinders, and wherein saidother field of fiber control elements is constituted by an endless beltpassing over said table and said two terminal cylinders.
 3. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the other field of fiber control elementsis also constituted by bars with similar flexible lips.
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein each of said flexible lip carrying bars ismade of a rigid material.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein eachof said bars has a strip-carrying face, said flexible strip having twomarginal portions and said two marginal portions of said flexible stripbeing secured to said face of said bar.
 6. A device according to claim4, wherein each of said bars has two opposite strip-carrying faces, saidflexible strip having two marginal portions and said two marginalportions of said flexible strip being secured respectively to said twoopposite faces of said bar.
 7. A device according to claim 3, whereineach bar of one of said two fields is located opposite a bar of theother field.
 8. A device according to claim 3, wherein each bar of oneof said two fields is shifted with reference to a bar of the other fieldin their direction of motion.
 9. A device according to claim 1, whereinone of said two fields of fiber control elements comprises an endlessbelt, said flexible lip-carrying bars being arranged inside said endlessbelt, said lips being in contact with one run of said belt in an activearea of said field.
 10. A device according to claim 9, wherein saidflexible lip-carrying bars are carried on a support, said support beingmovable perpendicularly to the general plane of said lips on a zonewhere they cooperate with the other field of fiber controlling elements.11. A device according to claim 1, wherein said field offiber-controlling element further comprises two end cylinders, anendless belt passing over said two end cylinders, said field of flexiblelip carrying bars being carried by said endless belt.
 12. A deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein said table is raised with reference to theend cylinder which carries the downstream end of the endless beltpassing over said table.
 13. A device according to claim 1, wherein asupport means is provided on which said field of flexible lip carryingbars is mounted for displacing said lip-carrying bars in a working pathin the direction of movement of the fiber material and for returningsaid flexible lip-carrying bars through a path located above the workingpath.